Court Considers Evidence Against Rev. Monyau to be Truthful, Judge Says.

Crown witnesses have managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Reverend Anthony Thabo Monyau had been present at the various meetings that planned the arrest of seniors army officers and the toppling the government in 1998, Justice Ts’eliso Monaphathi has found.

Reading judgment on September 27 in a case in which Rev. Monyau of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) is accused of High Treason and two alternative charges of sedition and contravening section seven of Internal Security Act as well as section 183 of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act during the riots of 1998, Justice Monaphathi said Rev. Monyau was involved in all the meetings where discussions were held on how the mission could be successfully carried out.

The places include Mohale’s Hoek, Mafeteng, the Victoria Hotel and Ha-Ts’osane at the residence of the Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu, Chief Khoabane Theko.

Justice Monaphathi said the evidence of one Brigadier Sebajoe, a military officer, revealed that he was called to meet Rev. Monyau at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral Maseru, where Rev. Monyau told him about the plan to arrest Lieutenant General Makhula Mosakeng and other senior army officials, as well as cabinet ministers.

This had been corroborated by the evidence of one Private Hosana Sako, whose concrete evidence the defence failed to dismiss. The fact that Rev. Monyau has been present in all gatherings has also not been denied by him during his testimony.

When asked by one soldier at one of these meetings  whether he was aware that the mission would result in blood shed, Reverend Monyau had reportedly responded that “it would be a less evil, ....”      

Justice Monaphathi further noted that Rev. Monyau’s evidence was full of contradictions, was from time to time very untruthful in his testimony and,  sometimes could not respond to some questions, as if he did not take the court proceedings seriously.  

It was apparent that the cellular phones that were to be used as communication to make the arrest successful were provided by Rev. Monyau, Justice Monaphathi said .   

Chief Theko also seemed to be featuring in almost from the beginning to the end of the plan that resulted in the arrest of senior army officers.

It had also been revealed that it was at Chief Theko’s that one Mr. Selala Sekhonyana requested members of the army to support the mission of toppling the government. Present at the occasion had been included Mr. Moeketse Malebo, Ms. Mamello Morrison, a lawyer named Mr. Makotoko and Rev. Monyau.

The case is before Justice Ts’eliso Monaphathi with the crown represented by Advocates Pingla Hemraj and Kissoon Singh. Advocate Ishmael Semenya  is defence counsel and he is assisted by Advocate Kananelo Mosito.  

28 September 2004